Nursing unit



1959 R. H. so'ro 2,917,048

NURSING UNIT Filed July 22, 1958 INVENTOR.

WW W

NURSING UNIT Ricardo Hurtado Soto, Bogota, Coiombia Application July 22, 1958, Serial No. 750,164

2 Claims. (Cl. 123252) This invention relates to infant nursing apparatus, and more particularly to an improved nursing nipple unit.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved nursing nipple unit which is simple in construction, which is easy to maintain in a sanitary condition, and which is provided with means for efiiciently and thoroughly sterilizing same.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved nursing unit which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is durable in construction, which is easy to mount on a nursing bottle, and which is provided with means for maintaining same in a sanitary condition when not in use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical cross sectional view taken through a sterilizing vessel in which is placed an improved nursing unit according to the present invention, whereby the nursing unit may be sterilized.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the major portion of the sterilizing unit of Figure l, the unit being shown mounted on top of a nursing bottle.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the external cover member of the unit removed.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the annular main bod,- portion of the nursing unit illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the main body of the unit.

Figure 6 is a perspective view partly broken away, of the nipple member and rigid disc member employed in the nursing unit of Figures 1 to 3.

Referring to the drawings, the improved nursing unit is designated generally at 11 and comprises an annular main body 12 which is formed at its lower portion with the external cylindrical threads 13 and with the enlarged, knurled bottom flange 14. The flange 14 is formed with a plurality of depending supporting projections 15 spaced at equal angles therearound, for example, four depending projections spaced at angles of 90 degrees.

The annular main body 12 is formed internally thereof at its lower portion with the internal threads 15 adapted to threadedly engage on the threaded top end 16 of a conventional nursing bottle 17 in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. The annular main unit 12 is formed with the centrally apertured top wall 18, and the side wall of the member 12 is formed with a plurality of apertures 19 located adjacent the external threads 16, as shown in Figure 3.

Designated at 20 is a resilent deformable nipple member having a top bulb portion 21 formed with the discharge aperture 22, and having an annular base portion 23 adapted to fit within the annular rigid body member 12 in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. Thus, the top bulb portion 21 is adapted to engage through the central aperture 24 of the top wall 18 and the annular base portion 23 is closely receivable within the upper portion of member 12.

atent O M 2,917,048 Patented Dec. 15, 1959 inturned flange element 28. As shown in Figure 3, the.

disc 26 is receivable in the circular cavity defined in the flanged skirt member 27, the bottom flange element 28 serving to support the disc 26 in said cavity when the body 12 is in a loosened condition on the threads 16 of the nursing bottle, as will be presently described.

The rigid disc member 26 is formed with the regularly spaced notches 29 on its periphery to provide a passage for liquid from the nursing bottle 17 to the nipple member 20 when the body member 12 is in the loosened position thereof, shown in Figure 3.

Preferably, the peripheral portions of the disc member 26 are formed with vertical serrations 30, so as to sealingly engage with the inside surface of the skirt member 27. The external surface of the skirt member 27 is likewise formed with vertical serrations 31, as shown in Figure 6, to sealingly engage the inside surface of the side wall of body member 12 and to frictionally hold the nipple member against rotation therein.

Designated at 33 is a generally cylindrical external cover member which is formed with the threaded lower portion 34 and with the outwardly extending base flange 35. The cover member 33 is threadedly engageable with the external threads 13 of the rigid body member 12 in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2. The top wall 35 of the cover member 33 is provided with the handle ring 36 which is engageable by any suitable implement for lifting the unit, or for otherwise suspending the same.

As shown in Figure 1, the assembled unit, including the cover member 33 may be placed in a sterilizing vessel 37 containing water, shown at 38, and the vessel may be heated to an elevated temperature whereby the hot water will enter the bottom of the main body 12 and will flow upwardly through the notched portions 29 of the disc 26 and thence upwardly through the bulb 21, emerging from the feeding aperture 22 in the top of the bulb. The hot water may also circulate through the apertures 19, as shown in Figure 1, whereby the upward flow of hot water provides a thorough sterilizing action which thoroughly sterilizes all of the passages of the nursing unit.

After sterilization, the unit may be lifted out of the vessel 37 by employing a suitable hooked implement which may be engaged with the ring 36. Thereafter, the unit may be set aside, being covered by the member 33 so that it is protected against contamination. When the nursing unit is to be used, it is threadedly engaged on the neck of the nursing bottle 17, as illustrated in Figure 2, and may be maintained in a sealed condition, as shown in Figure 2, until its use is required. Thus, in the positions of the parts illustrated in Figure 2, the body member 12 is screwed tightly against the top rim of the bottle 17, whereby the rigid disc member 26 is forced upwardly and the flange 28 makes sealing contact with the top rim of the bottle, closing ofl the passages defined by the notches 29 and forcing the disc 26 into sealing contact with the inside surface of the annular member 23. When the bottle and the nursing unit associated therewith are to be used by the infant, the outer cover 33 is removed and the body member 12 is loosened on the threads 16, allowing the partsto assume the positions thereof shown in Figure 3, wherein the rigid disc '26 is spaced below the top wall of the annular member 23, and wherein clearance is defined between the notches 29 and the skirt member 27 to allow liquid to pass from the bottle into the bulb 21.

Aswill be readily apparent, the bottle can be readily sealed 'by merely tightening the body member 12 thereon, and may be unsealed for use by merely loosening said body member on the bottle.

The rate of flow from the bottle maybe regulated by adjusting the position of the body member 12 on the threads 16 of the bottle, since by such adjustment, a flow passage of desired area may be obtained.

While a specific embodiment of an improved nursing nippleunit has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Av nursing nipple unit comprising an annular main body formed with a plurality of apertures and formed with. internal threads adapted to threadedly engage on the top of abottle and including a centrally apertured top wall, a resilient deformable nipple member having a top bulb portion engaged through said top wall and an annular peripherally flanged base portion receivable against said top wall, said base portion being formed with vertical serrations at its periphery, an annular sealing rib. depending from said top wall and being sealingly engageable with said base portion, and a rigid disc member disposed in said base portion, said disc member having a notched periphery.

2. A nursing nipple unit comprising an annular main body formed with a plurality of apertures and formed with internal threads adapted to threadedly engage on the top of a bottle and including a centrally apertured top wall, a resilient deformable nipple member having a top bulb portion engaged through said top wall and an annular peripherally flanged base portion receivable against said top wall, said base portion being formed with vertical serrations at its periphery, an annular sealing rib depending from said top wall and being sealingly engageable with said base portion, a rigid disc member disposed in said base portion, said disc member having a notched periphery, external threads on said main body, and a generally cylindrical cover member disposed over said *main body and nipple member and having internal threads engaged with the external threads on said main body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,638,094 Kronish May 12, 1953 2,746,631 Witz May 22, 1956 2,774,500 Budioni Dec. 18, 1956 2,876,773 Witz Mar. 10, 1959 

